Luella L. Vitalis

Luella Vitalis passed away peacefully at the age of 94 on Dec. 24, 2021, at Ramsey Village Continuing Care in Des Moines.

Luella was born to Okle and Murl (Retherford) Coy on Feb. 23, 1927, in Bloomfield, IA. She was a proud graduate of Bloomfield High School Class of 1945. She enjoyed a varied career, gaining experience at the FBI, National Cash Register and Des Moines Flight Service before running the warehouse division of Vitalis Truck Line. She then became president of the company when her husband, Elmer Vitalis, passed away in 1991.

She also was a longtime volunteer for many organizations and received the Iowa Governor’s Volunteer Award for her work with the Food Bank of Iowa.

Her lifelong passion was gardening, becoming a Master Gardener in 2001, and in her retirement she enjoyed designing and tending to her flower garden, which spans three lots in Des Moines. A proud Iowan and a fiercely strong and independent woman with a sharp wit, Luella also enjoyed traveling with her husband and sister, hot air ballooning with her daughter, sharing her incredible knitting talents by teaching family and friends to knit and telling a great story over a good cup of tea (or hot chocolate).

She was preceded in death by her husband; her parents; her siblings, Roseanna Cross, Leonard Coy and Stanley Coy; and her daughters, Terry Rubin and Jill Rubin.

She is survived by her grandchildren — Jenifer (Dain) Linder, Brie (Patrick) Regan, Jeremy (Macenzie) Rubin and Michelle (Steve Scheideman) Rubin — and seven great-grandchildren who knew her as “Grandma G.G.”: Avery, Coy (who recently moved to Des Moines to provide caregiving to Luella), Hunter, Logan, Madison, Reece and Walker.

A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, January 15, 2022 at 2:30 p.m. at Hamilton’s Funeral Home, 605 Lyon Street, Des Moines.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to ChildServe, UnityPoint Hospice and the Animal Rescue League of Iowa.

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Vickie & Tom Linder

01/09/2022

We only met Luella a few times, but we are rich with memories from those occasions. Our first meeting was when she came to the wedding of her granddaughter, Jenifer, to our son, Dain. Luella connected with Dain's grandmother and together they shared in the joy of their first grandchild's wedding. She was thoughtful in remembering special occasions with cards and sometimes humorous gifts. I will always remember a funny little book she sent, when our first grandson was born (her first great grandson). Luella opened her home to us with hospitality and more shared family time. Her visits to Colorado brought us together again for sight seeing and as an extended family of shared love.

Luella took her place as the matriarch of your family for many years. When you gather, may you celebrate her, as she individually touched each of your lives.

With sympathy and prayers of comfort,
Vickie & Tom Linder

Tara Iseminger Haag

01/03/2022

Luella was such a good friend to my Aunt Marlene Gruver. I remember one year I brought her salt water taffy from the fair she liked the black walnut. Marlene had moved to Arizona and asked me to take Luella some. Also my dad and grandpa worked at Vitalis Truck Lines for many years. Postitive thoughts and prayers to you all. I have a feeling Marlene and her are catching up.

Larry Young, Sr

01/03/2022

So sorry for your families loss. Mr & Mrs Vitalis lived on E 23rd St which was on my paper route back in the day, 1950s & 60s. Their yard and home were immaculate with a swimming pool too. This was when the newspaper had a morning, evening and Sunday edition and they took all three. I put the paper on their back porch and they really appreciated it especially Mrs Vitalis. She was one of my biggest tippers. Memories are forever so remember the past and cherish those memories,